Dear Lisa,

2023 marks the 50^th anniversary of the discovery of the association between HLA-B27 and ankylosing spondylitis. Two groups, one from University of California, Los Angeles and the other from Westminster Hospital in London, UK, independently published this finding in 1973 (Schlosstein et al. NEJM 1973, Brewerton et al. Lancet 1973). The rest is history. Importantly though, it was the association with AS that was reported in 1973. HLA-B27 itself had been discovered a few years earlier by the Norwegian immunologist Eric Thorsby who performed human-to-human skin graft experiments to induce novel HLA-specific antisera. Originally named FJH (the initials of the HLA-B27 positive skin donor), it was labeled W27 at the 4^th International Histocompatibility Workshop in 1970 and renamed HLA-B27 in a later nomenclature update.

Fast forward 50 years. Even though we still don’t fully understand the mechanisms of the association, we might be finally moving closer. Several recent studies reported an enrichment of a conserved TCR beta motif in CD8+ T cells in HLA-B27+ AS patients confirming similar findings with CD8+ T cell clones from the 1990s. The most recent study from Chris Garcia’s group at Stanford University used single-cell TCR-seq to study CD8+ T cells in synovial fluid and aqueous humor from HLA-B27+ patients with AS and acute anterior uveitis (Yang et al. Nature 2022). Clonally expanded TCR alpha and beta pairs were identified and expressed as recombinant T cell receptors to screen for HLA-B27 restricted peptides using a technique called yeast display. Several candidate peptides derived from microbial and endogenous protein were identified that await further study. Could it be that the arthritogenic peptide hypothesis ultimately turns out to be correct?

To learn more about HLA-B27 and its role in SpA, please join us at the 2023 SPARTAN Annual Meeting in May in Cleveland, OH. The meeting planning committee led by Marina Magrey has created an exciting program that will include a session devoted to the HLA-B27 anniversary. The scientific meeting will be preceded by a one-day Spondyloarthritis Review Course (formerly known as Trainee Symposium). This name change reflects our intention to broaden the target audience of this traditional educational activity to non-trainees including rheumatology advanced practice providers.

Registration for the 2023 Annual Meeting is open. See you in Cleveland!

Joerg Ermann, MD

SPARTAN Chair

Planning for the Biomarkers in Axial Spondyloarthritis Investigative Study (BASIS) continues with recent selection of a contract research organization to help manage this large project. After an open call for proposals and evaluation of several competitive bids for the project by the BASIS Steering Committee, the SPARTAN Board approved CARE Arthritis to work alongside the biorepository at Cleveland Clinic in the management of BASIS. The Steering Committee is now in the process of finalizing the projected BASIS budget and entering into funding conversations with study partners.

The EIDA team has been working hard to educate our non-rheumatologist colleagues about Axial Spondyloarthritis! We have delivered 15 talks (11 virtual, 4 in person) and reached an estimated 825 learners. 13 talks are lined up for 2023 so far.

Do you have a contact for a group of physical therapists, chiropractors, primary care physicians, orthopedic physician assistants, or physiatrists who you think could benefit from our talk?

Please contact [email protected] or [email protected]. We offer virtual or in person talks and the scale that ranges from a local Grand Rounds to a National Conference. There is a stipend for the presenter.

Laying the foundation for the next generation of researchers and leaders in Spondyloarthritis is SPARTAN's mission. In line with SPARTAN's vision to accelerate research in the field of Spondyloarthritis and to improve the care of patients with Axial Spondyloarthritidies, the SPARTAN announces the Early Career Investigator Award to support early career Investigator who are working in the field of Axial Spondyloarthritis.

The Spondylitis Association of America hopes to encourage new, upcoming rheumatologists and researchers to focus on the future of treatment and research in ankylosing spondylitis and related diseases. SAA created the Bruckel Early Career Investigator Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the care and understanding of patients with spondyloarthritis. The winner receives a $30,000 grant. Applications open in May. ...More information

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